Our Bureau
Hayward, CA
Sherawali temple in California’s Hayward has been defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti. The incident comes to light weeks after the Swaminarayan temple in California’s Newark was also defaced with anti-India graffiti.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) in a post on X shared a photo of the defacement.
“Another Bay Area Hindu temple attacked with pro-Khalistan graffiti. The Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward, CA sustained a copycat defacement just two weeks after the Swaminarayan Mandir attack and one week after a theft at the Shiv Durga temple in the same area. HAF is in touch with temple leaders and in contact with the police,” HAF said in the post.
The HAF highlighted the importance of installing security cameras and alarm systems, considering the rising threat to the temples.
“We condemn the vandalism of Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in California. We welcome efforts by the Newark Police Department to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” the official handle of the US State Department for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs wrote on X.
“One of the devotees, who lives close to the shrine, discovered anti-Hindu and anti-India graffiti in black ink on an exterior wall of the building, and the local administration was immediately informed,” said Bhargav Raval, the spokesperson for the temple administration.
“As you know, we are concerned about this. Extremists and separatist forces outside India should not get space. Our consulate has lodged a complaint with the (US) government and the police there over whatever happened, and I believe the matter is being inquired,” Jaishankar said in response to a query about the incident.
Meanwhile, Newark police termed the incident a ‘targeted act’ and assured a thorough investigation.
